Wikipedia

Sean Rigg

For the British musician who died in police custody, see Death of Sean Rigg.

Sean Michael Rigg (born 1 October 1988) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger or forward. In a 13-year career in the English Football League and National League, he scored 57 goals in 477 league and cup appearances.

Sean Rigg
Rigg playing for Port Vale in 2010
Personal information
Full name Sean Michael Rigg[1]
Date of birth (1988-10-01) 1 October 1988 (age 36)[2]
Place of birth Wotton-under-Edge, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Winger; striker
Youth career
2003–2004 Forest Green Rovers
2004–2006 Bristol Academy of Sport
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Bristol Rovers 57 (2)
2008 → Grays Athletic (loan) 6 (0)
2009 → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 14 (6)
2009–2010 → Port Vale (loan) 4 (1)
2010 → Port Vale (loan) 22 (2)
2010–2012 Port Vale 67 (13)
2012–2014 Oxford United 72 (7)
2014–2016 AFC Wimbledon 85 (7)
2016–2018 Newport County 50 (6)
2018–2019 Bath City 34 (8)
Total 408 (52)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006. He recovered from a broken jaw sustained in November 2006 to become a first-team regular in 2006–07, also appearing in the club's play-off final victory. He retained his place in the club's subsequent 2007–08 League One campaign, though he lost his place in 2008–09, and was instead sent out on loan at Conference club Grays Athletic. He started the 2009–10 season on loan at Conference side Forest Green Rovers before he joined Port Vale on a loan deal that was made permanent in January 2010. He switched to Oxford United in May 2012, where he stayed for two seasons. He signed with AFC Wimbledon in May 2014, but was released a day after he was an unused substitute in the club's League Two play-off final victory in May 2016. He joined Newport County in June 2016 and stayed with the club for one and a half seasons. He joined a part-time club Bath City in February 2018 to pursue a new career as a tattoo artist and retired from football completely in May 2019.

Career

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Bristol Rovers

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Rigg joined the Bristol Rovers-backed Bristol Academy of Sport at Filton College in 2004 and earned his first professional contract in the summer of 2006.[4] He made his league debut on 19 August 2006, coming on as a substitute in the second half against Milton Keynes Dons. The next month, he signed a new deal to keep him at Rovers until summer 2008.[5]

On 11 November 2006, he suffered a double fracture of the jaw after being punched in an FA Cup first-round match by Barrow defender James Cotterill.[6] The match and incident were televised.[7] Rigg had to drink through a straw and eat with a teaspoon following the attack. Cotterill was later jailed for four months for the assault,[8] and suspended from football by The FA,[9][10] having pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.[11] Rigg managed to recover to match fitness within six weeks,[12] having had a plate put in to help speed up the healing process.[13]

"I didn't aggravate Cotterill in any way for him to react like that. But it happened and he broke my jaw in two places."

— Rigg was shocked by the assault.[14]

By January, he returned to the first team and helped Rovers to a play-off place. He then scored against Lincoln City in a 7–4 aggregate win at the play-off semi-final, and made an appearance as a substitute against Shrewsbury Town in the final; the game was won 3–1, and Rovers were promoted into League One.[15] Rigg was named Bristol Rovers Young Player of the Year.[16] A regular in the 2007–08 season, he scored his first senior goal in a 1–1 home draw with Northampton Town on 12 March,[17] and finished the campaign with 38 appearances to his name.

Rigg joined Conference National side Grays Athletic on a one-month loan in September 2008.[18] He played six games at the New Recreation Ground. At the end of the season Paul Trollope placed Rigg on the transfer list,[19] having used Rigg only ten times in 2008–09.

In August 2009, Rigg signed for Forest Green Rovers, a club where he had spent some time as a youth player, on a one-month loan.[20] He scored six minutes into his debut for Forest Green against Rushden & Diamonds.[21] The loan was extended for a further month and Rigg enjoyed a rich vein of scoring form,[22] scoring seven goals in nineteen games.[23]

Port Vale

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In November 2009, he signed on loan to Port Vale until January 2010,[24] joining "Pirates" teammate Lewis Haldane.[25] His opener at Grimsby Town gave manager Micky Adams food for thought over whether to sign Rigg permanently in the January 2010 transfer window.[26] He returned to Rovers in January, though later in the month he returned to Vale Park on loan until the end of the season,[27] where he and Marc Richards began to develop a lethal strike partnership.[28] In all he scored three goals in 26 appearances for the club. Attempting to keep the "nucleus" of his side together, Adams offered Rigg a permanent two-year deal at Vale Park at the end of the season.[29]

"I like playing up the middle, but I also like to come deep to get the ball and try to create things."

— A self-assessment from Sean Rigg.[30]

Along with fourteen other players, he was released by Rovers at the end of the 2009–10 season.[31] He was offered a full contract at Port Vale,[32] and became the seventh player to commit his future to Port Vale in May 2010, his contract expiring in the summer of 2012.[33] For the 2010–11 season he set himself a target of 20 goals.[34] However, Adams started using the young striker as a winger, and Rigg adapted well to the position.[35] He ended the season with five goals in 33 appearances, falling short of his pre-season target of twenty goals.[36]

He started 2011–12 in fine form, bagging two against Barnet at Underhill, the first of which, a long-range effort, he described as the best of his career.[37] However, he lost his first-team spot after missing a month due to a hamstring injury.[38] He made his return in October, and added his fifth of the season at former club Bristol Rovers.[39] Despite remaining Vale's second-highest scorer, he did not start a game in the last six weeks of 2011 and had to make do with seven substitute appearances;[40] though he did add a further two goals to his tally from the bench, before admitting that the club's lack of activity during the January transfer window would give him a chance to win back his first-team place.[41] The club entered administration in March, but Rigg rejected a move up a division to Exeter City as almost all of his teammates stayed loyal to the struggling Burslem club.[42] He finished the season with ten goals in 45 appearances.

Oxford United

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In May 2012, he signed a two-year contract with Oxford United, who had just missed out on a place in the League Two play-offs; manager Chris Wilder admitted that "Sean is a player we have been watching for a while now".[43] In moving to the Kassam Stadium he received a pay rise, as well as a "fresh start".[44] He stated he was hopeful of winning promotion in his first season at the club.[45] He was nominated for the League Two Player of the Month award in December 2012.[46] Rigg ended the 2012–13 campaign with seven goals in his 53 appearances. He made 32 appearances for the "Yellows" in the 2013–14 season, scoring two goals, before being released in the summer by manager Gary Waddock.[47]

AFC Wimbledon

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In May 2014, he signed for Neal Ardley's League Two side AFC Wimbledon.[48] He marked his debut for the "Dons" with a goal in a 2–2 draw with Shrewsbury Town at Kingsmeadow on 9 August.[49] He scored seven goals in 52 appearances in the 2014–15 season, but said the team under-achieved by finishing in mid-table.[50] He made 44 appearances in the 2015–16 season, and was an unused substitute in the play-off final victory over Plymouth Argyle at Wembley Stadium that won Wimbledon promotion into League One.[51] He was released from the club the day after promotion was secured.[52]

Newport County

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Rigg joined League Two club Newport County on a two-year contract in June 2016.[53] He made his debut for the "Exiles" on 6 August, in a 3–2 defeat to Mansfield Town at Rodney Parade on the opening day of the 2016–17 season.[54] He scored his first goal for Newport with a header two weeks later, to secure a 1–1 draw with Crewe Alexandra.[55] He missed three weeks in January with a hamstring injury.[56] Newport were 11 points from safety in last place in the table when manager Graham Westley was sacked in March. Still, Rigg said the players were now playing with "no pressure".[57] Caretaker manager Michael Flynn steered the club out of the relegation zone on the last day of the season.[58] Rigg lost his first-team place in October of the 2017–18 season. He failed to make it onto the bench after Christmas after Flynn criticised his fitness levels and consistency.[59] On 5 February 2018, Rigg left Newport after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[60]

Bath City

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On 6 February 2018, Rigg signed an 18-month contract with National League South part-time club Bath City, which would allow him the chance to work as a tattoo artist.[61] He scored two goals in seven appearances in the second half of the 2017–18 campaign, helping Jerry Gill's "Romans" to a ninth-place finish. He scored six goals in 27 games in the 2018–19 season as Bath finished in the play-offs, but lost to Wealdstone at the quarter-final stage.[62] Rigg announced his retirement from the game in May 2019.[63]

Style of play

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He preferred to play as a striker, though was also comfortable as a winger.[64]

Personal life

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In January 2011, Rigg began training to become a tattooist, and Port Vale teammate Lewis Haldane allowed him to practice his tattooing techniques on him.[65] Later in the year his fiancée gave birth to a baby daughter.[42]

Career statistics

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Club Season Division League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bristol Rovers 2006–07[66] League Two 18 1 2 0 1 0 5[a][b] 1[b] 26 2
2007–08[67] League One 31 1 5 0 1 0 1[a] 0 38 1
2008–09[68] League One 8 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 10 0
2009–10[69] League One 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 57 2 7 0 4 0 7 1 75 3
Grays Athletic (loan) 2008–09[68] Conference National 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Forest Green Rovers (loan) 2009–10[69] Conference National 14 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 16 6
Port Vale 2009–10[69] League Two 26 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 3
2010–11[70] League Two 25 3 4 1 2 1 2[a] 0 33 5
2011–12[71] League Two 42 10 2 0 1 0 0 0 45 10
Total 93 16 6 1 3 1 2 0 104 18
Oxford United 2012–13[72] League Two 44 5 4 1 2 0 3[a] 1[a] 53 7
2013–14[73] League Two 28 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 32 2
Total 72 7 7 1 3 0 3 1 85 9
AFC Wimbledon 2014–15[74] League Two 44 5 4 1 1 0 3[a] 1[a] 52 7
2015–16[75] League Two 39 2 1 0 1 0 3[a][b] 0 44 2
Total 83 7 5 1 2 0 6 1 96 9
Newport County 2016–17[76] EFL League Two 34 6 3 0 1 0 2[a] 0 40 2
2017–18[77] EFL League Two 16 0 1 0 1 0 3[a] 0 21 0
Total 50 6 4 0 2 0 5 0 61 2
Bath City 2017–18[78] National League South 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 2
2018–19[78] National League South 27 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 6
Total 34 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 8
Career total 408 52 31 3 14 1 23 3 477 57
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.
  2. ^ a b c Appearance/s and goal/s in the play-offs.

Honours

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Bristol Rovers

AFC Wimbledon

References

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  1. ^ "Sean Rigg". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Name: Sean Rigg". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Quintet set for Pirates pro deals". BBC Sport. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  5. ^ "Rigg signs new deal with Rovers". BBC Sport. 5 October 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  6. ^ "Player charged over pitch clash". BBC News. 20 November 2006. Retrieved 24 November 2006.
  7. ^ "Barrow launch probe into 'punch'". BBC Sport. 13 November 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  8. ^ "FA Cup assault footballer jailed". BBC News. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2007.
  9. ^ "Player suspended for FA Cup punch". BBC Sport. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Footballer suspended over punch". BBC Sport. 17 November 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  11. ^ "Player admits cup game GBH charge". BBC Sport. 30 November 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  12. ^ "Trollope hopeful on Rigg return". BBC Sport. 29 December 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  13. ^ "Rigg 'back playing by Christmas'". BBC Sport. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  14. ^ "Port Vale: Rigg puts horror assault behind him to rebuild career with Vale". The Sentinel. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  15. ^ a b Bevan, Chris (26 May 2007). "Bristol Rovers 3–1 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Player of the year awards". Jeff Davis Photographic Ltd. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
  17. ^ "Rigg happy to get on scoresheet". BBC Sport. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  18. ^ "Grays bring in trio on loan deals". BBC Sport. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  19. ^ "Trollope places trio up for sale". BBC Sport. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  20. ^ Iles, Rob (22 October 2009). "Interview: Sean Rigg on his loan spell at Forest Green and his Bristol Rovers future". Gazette. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  21. ^ "Rushden & D 4–2 Forest Green". BBC Sport. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  22. ^ "Forest Green extend Rigg's loan". BBC Sport. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  23. ^ "Vale snap up Pirates forward Rigg". BBC Sport. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  24. ^ "Rigg Signs for Vale". Port Vale F.C. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  25. ^ "Vale sign Rigg from Rovers". The Sentinel. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  26. ^ "Adams undecided on Rigg loan deal". BBC Sport. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  27. ^ "Port Vale extend Sean Rigg loan from Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  28. ^ "Port Vale: Richards sees mileage in partnership". The Sentinel. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  29. ^ Shaw, Steve (10 May 2010). "Port Vale: Rebuilding programme begins with Rigg offer". Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  30. ^ Shaw, Steve (25 November 2009). "Port Vale: Adams on the attack as Vale slip again". The Sentinel. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  31. ^ "Defender Aaron Lescott goes in Bristol Rovers clear-out". BBC Sport. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  32. ^ "Goalkeeper Joe Anyon released by Port Vale". BBC Sport. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  33. ^ "Striker Sean Rigg signs two-year contract at Port Vale". BBC Sport. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  34. ^ "Port Vale striker Sean Rigg aims for 20-goal haul". BBC Sport. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  35. ^ "Port Vale: Sean Rigg happy with wide role at Valiants". The Sentinel. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  36. ^ "Port Vale striker Sean Rigg aims for 20-goal haul". BBC Sport. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  37. ^ "Sean Rigg impressed with new Port Vale formation". BBC Sport. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  38. ^ "Port Vale: Red-hot Rigg ready for Vale return". The Sentinel. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  39. ^ "Goalscorer Sean Rigg 'showed respect' to Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  40. ^ "Sean Rigg could be helped by lack of Port Vale signings". BBC Sport. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  41. ^ "Port Vale: Micky's transfer setback a boost for goal hero Rigg". The Sentinel. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  42. ^ a b "Rigg ready to sign new contract with Valiants". The Sentinel. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  43. ^ "Oxford United sign Port Vale forward Sean Rigg". BBC Sport. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  44. ^ "Money talks as Sean Rigg quits for Oxford United". The Sentinel. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  45. ^ "Sean Rigg backs Oxford United to bounce back". BBC Sport. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  46. ^ "Duo Nominated for nPower Awards". oufc.co.uk. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  47. ^ "Oxford United: James Constable offered new deal". BBC Sport. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  48. ^ "Sean Rigg: AFC Wimbledon sign Oxford United winger". BBC Sport. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  49. ^ "Wimbledon 2–2 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  50. ^ Raitanen, Jens (7 May 2015). "AFC Wimbledon: Winger knows Dons have under-achieved despite historic high". Wandsworth Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  51. ^ a b Pilnick, Brent (30 May 2016). "AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  52. ^ "AFC Wimbledon: Dons sign loan defender Darius Charles from Burton and retain trio". BBC Sport. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  53. ^ "Newport County sign winger Jack Compton and striker Sean Rigg". BBC Sport. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  54. ^ "Newport County 2–3 Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  55. ^ "Newport County 1–1 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  56. ^ Penman, Andrew (26 January 2017). "Sean Rigg returns for Newport County". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  57. ^ Penmsn, Andrew (24 March 2017). "We've been written off – there's no pressure on us, says Exiles star". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  58. ^ Curtis, Leigh (6 May 2017). "Notts County concede last minute winner as Newport stay up". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  59. ^ Penman, Andrew (5 February 2018). "Sean Rigg released by Newport County". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  60. ^ Andrew Penman (5 February 2018). "Former AFC Wimbledon man has his contract cancelled by mutual consent". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  61. ^ Penman, Andrew (6 February 2018). "Sean Rigg set for career as a tattoo artist after leaving Newport County". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  62. ^ Burridge, Henry (1 May 2019). "Ten-man Bath City go down fighting in Wealdstone play-off loss". somersetlive. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  63. ^ Burridge, Henry (15 May 2019). "Robins swoop to sign Bath City defender Cundy". somersetlive. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  64. ^ "Port Vale: Rigg happy to fit in during promotion push". The Sentinel. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  65. ^ "Port Vale player Sean Rigg is training to be tattooist". BBC Sport. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  66. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  67. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  68. ^ a b "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  69. ^ a b c "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  70. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  71. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  72. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  73. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  74. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  75. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  76. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  77. ^ "Games played by Sean Rigg in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  78. ^ a b Sean Rigg at Soccerway
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